It was day one of 45 for the Supreme Court trial in Kelowna accused Lorence Williams.
Williams has been charged with second-degree murder in the killing of his roommate Thomas Chadwick on May 30, 2021.
Crown Counsel presented opening statements to the 12-person jury before witnesses were called to the stand.
READ MORE: Kelowna man charged with murder denied bail
Chadwick was found dead inside his residence in the 3400 block of Sexsmith Road.
Crown Counsel told the court that Williams allegedly assaulted his roommate with a piece of wood. In opening statements to the jury, Crown stated that after Chadwick had been struck once, he fell down a flight of stairs before Williams allegedly bludgeoned him to death, leaving behind a piece of wood and a pair of glasses.
The day prior to Chadwick’s death, police had responded to two calls from people requesting wellness checks for Williams.
The police watchdog completed an investigation into the Kelowna RCMP, and whether their actions, or lack thereof, contributed to Chadwick’s death. They were subsequently cleared of wrongdoing.
Crown will be calling on responding police officers and paramedics, as well as the officers who processed the crime scene as witnesses. The doctor who performed the autopsy will also be called to testify.
READ MORE: No issue with Kelowna RCMP wellness check before man’s killing, police watchdog rules